Bergamot: The Earl Grey Citrus
The bergamot orange flavors Earl Grey tea. The story of this Italian Calabrian specialty and what makes it different from other citrus.
The bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia) is a hybrid citrus grown almost exclusively in the Calabria region of southern Italy. Its peel produces bergamot oil, which is what flavors Earl Grey tea. The fruit is too bitter to eat fresh, but its essential oil is among the most prized in perfumery and food flavoring.
Origin and history
A hybrid of lemon and bitter orange (sour orange), the bergamot likely originated in Southeast Asia and reached Italy via Mediterranean trade routes by the 1700s. Calabrian growers refined cultivation, and the region developed a near-monopoly on commercial bergamot oil production that persists today.
Where bergamot grows today
Calabria (Italy) produces over 80% of the world's bergamot. Smaller plantings exist in the Ivory Coast, Brazil, and California.
How to grow bergamot
Subtropical Mediterranean climate. USDA Zones 9-10. Cultivation is similar to lemons.
Bottom line
A specialty crop with a global reach through one cup of tea. Plant one if you love Earl Grey and have a Mediterranean climate.